Meet our Coaches
Capital Thunder has one of the most experienced coaching staffs in Northern California and has developed numerous players to continue the passion of hockey past the youth levels.
Our coaches believe that family is the center of every great hockey program. Hockey is about families coming together every week to support the children and their community.
Jon Hitesman
High School/16UA - Head Coach
Paul Gauthier
14UA - Assistant Coach
Geoff Reader
14UB - Assistant Coach
Coach Geoff started playing hockey as a young child and progressed to play 16U AAA in 2000. He coached two years of Junior Hockey in NH (2001-2003). He was the Asst. Coach in 2004 for the AAA Northern Massachusetts Cyclones, and went on to run clinics for them in 2005. From 2011-2014, Coach Reader worked in the NHL for the LA Kings in Hockey Development, which included developing local hockey players on behalf of the LA Kings and planning and executing camps and clinics. He worked closely with alumni players to develop kids skills and was with the Kings when they celebrated with Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014. He has been with the Thunder since 2015 as an Asst. Coach for the Midget Team, moving on too Asst. Coach for the Bantam A Team in 2018, and Head Coach of the Thunder High School Team in 2019.
Matt Strinden
12UA - Head Coach
Rob Lapsley
10UA - Head Coach
Cory Lange
High School/16UA - Assistant Coach
Coach Cory has been coaching for seven years and has been with the Thunder for three. He has spent a lot of time playing pond hockey and outside of coaching he spends time with his family camping, skiing, hiking and swimming. Coach Cory also loves to decorate for Halloween and Christmas!
Rusty Krouse
14UA - Assistant Coach
Coach Rusty has been with the Thunder for three seasons now, as both parent and coach. He played both ice and roller hockey from around age 10 through high school. He currently plays two nights a week in the local house league, at Skatetown, as well as coaches multiple youth, adult Learn To Play, and adult skills programs outside of CTYH. He is a self-proclaimed craft beer enthusiast (alright, maybe just a beer enthusiast), who enjoys woodworking as a hobby, watching his daughter’s travel soccer club and high school teams play, and enjoying ice time with his wife, who is learning to play ice hockey!
Todd Bowman
14UB - Assistant Coach
Chris Hughes
12UA - Assistant Coach
Scott Folena
14UA - Head Coach
Jason Davis
14UB - Head Coach
Francois-Rene Perron
14UB - Assistant Coach
Scott Riddle
12UA - Assistant Coach
Heath Hodel
10UA - Assistant Coach
Bruce Barragan
10UA - Assistant Coach
Coach Bruce started playing hockey in norther California 50 years ago and has been coaching in northern California for 40 years. He knew he wanted to coach when he was a bantam and never looked back. This is his 19th year with the Capital Thunder, having coached at all levels. He’s a great outdoorsman as he enjoys backpacking and camping, but also loves to golf! He loves spending time with his family and is ready to be a grandpa!
